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Noel Francis Chantiam bought the property next to King City GO station for $750,000 in 1999. Metrolinx has expropriated title to the land because it needs to expand the station. Its offer to Chantiam? Just $1. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
According to court records, Metrolinx appraised Chantiam's property at $2.1M but determined it was contaminated and cleaning it up will cost more than that. Chantiam is fighting the expropriation, arguing Metrolinx has failed to make a good faith offer. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
The King City case is an unusually messy expropriation dispute. But it's worth watching because in the coming years Metrolinx will move to acquire hundreds of GTA properties as it expands the transit network. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
Metrolinx has yet to finalize its property requirements, but already we know that building new subways, LRTs, and GO projects, will affect single-family homes, heritage properties, urban parkland, and even archeologically sensitive sites. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
It is inevitable that property-owners will be affected by transit construction, and the GTA needs transit. Metrolinx says it designs projects to have minimal impacts, and only acquires properties it absolutely needs. Most acquisitions are temporary. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster told me building subways in a city like TO is like doing open heart surgery. "And it’s like doing open-heart surgery while you’re running a marathon, because you want to keep the city working." https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html4
Metrolinx also says its practice is to contact affected property owners early and often, with the aim of reaching an amicable settlement. Some lawyers I spoke to who've worked with Metrolinx said the agency usually acts with care offers a fair deal. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
Some affected communities say Metrolinx hasn't been transparent however, and some legal experts told me new provincial legislation that makes it easier for Metrolinx to acquire land could be used to weaken rights of property owners near new lines. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
I wanted to write this because it seems like every few weeks there was a new story about Metrolinx's work impacting homes, businesses, and other sites, sometimes with controversial consequences. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
Expect that to continue for years to come, as the agency works to build close to 300 km of rail projects in the GTA. Some observers say the agency is becoming the most active acquisition authority in the province. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/16/metrolinx-offered-1-for-his-garage-why-the-gtas-massive-transit-expansion-means-sudden-change-for-some-landowners.html
